Ron Marlow

Ron Marlow

Ron Marlow, Assistant Secretary for Access and Opportunity, has been selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2010 New England and Massachusetts Minority Business Champion for his work on behalf of the Patrick-Murray Administration to increase business opportunities for minorities across the state.

“I congratulate Ron on this honor,” said Gov. Patrick. “His work on behalf of our administration has given Massachusetts residents who have historically been left out of the process a voice in how their government operates, and has opened the doors of opportunity that have been closed for far too long.”

Gov. Patrick created the Office of Access and Opportunity (OAO) in 2008 to encourage greater participation in government and business by minorities and increase opportunities for all residents.

The OAO focuses on creating a more equitable and accessible state for all of our residents, including in areas of state procurement, personnel and policies.

“These awards are not solely a reflection of my work,” Marlow said. “They also reflect the leadership and commitment of the governor and other members of the administration to the principles and promise of inclusion in state government.”

Recently, Marlow has teamed with Undersecretary of Workforce Development Jennifer James to form a Task Force on Chronically Unemployed and Underemployed Persons. The Task Force will work to identify policy initiatives that can improve the employment of unemployed and underemployed persons, especially those individuals who were facing difficulties prior to the onset of the economic collapse.